Ratchet pipe-wrench.



PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

J. LEVY.

RATGHET PIPE WRENCH.

APPLIUAIION FILED MAY 15, 1901.

no MODEL.

I IIWH UNITE STATES Patented May Q6, ldd.

JOSEPH LEVY, or VERDIGRIS, NEBRASKA.

RATCHET PIPE-WRENCH.

sPEciFI'cATmN forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,945, dated lVIay 26,1903. Application filed May 15, 1901. Serial No. 60 424. (No modeli) To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LEVY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Verdigris, in the county of Knox and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Improved Ratchet Pipe-Wrench, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches, and is more particularly designed as an improvement in wrenches of that type adapted for use with pipes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a wrench of the character stated the construction of which is extremely simple, there-,

by enabling thesame to be manufactured at a minimum cost, and at the same time to provide a wrench embodying in its construction simple and efficient means to enable the jaw thereof being normally open, and thereby in a position to permit ready application of the wrench to a pipe or analogous articles when the necessity for use of the wrench arises.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a wrench the construction of which is such as to reduce the number of its parts to a minimum, thus enabling the wrench in case of fracture to be readily repaired without difficulty.

With these general objects in view and others which will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood the invention consists, substantially, in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the wrench.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the handle of the herein-described wrench, which handle is in 'the form of an elongated shank, one end of which is enlarged and bifurcated, as at 2, to provide a pair of substantially semicircular stationary jaws 3. The jaws 3, adjacent to one edge thereof, are perforated for the reception of a transverse pivotal pin 4, which pin is provided with an enlarged head 5 and is also provided at its other end with a removable locking-key 6, whereby the pin 4 is held within the perforations of the jaws 3.

Arranged within the bifurcation 2 of the handle 1 is a swinging jaw 7, said jaw being provided with a shank 8, of less thickness than the major portion of said jaw, and said shank is mounted upon the'pivotal pin 4, whereby the shank 8 has a pivotal connection with the handle 1 in order to permit the jaw 7 swinging in relation thereto. One side of the shank S is provided with an annular depression or receiving-socket 9, within which is disposed a coil-spring 10, and one end of said spring is connected to the pivotal pin 4, while the other end thereof has a fixed engagement with the shank 8. It will thus be seen that when the jaw 7is swung into closed position upon the handle 1 the coiLspring 9 becomes tensioned, and as soon as pressure is removed from the jaw 7 the latter will at once'swing away from the stationary jaws 3, and thereby normally keep in open position relative to said jaws in order to facilitate application of the wrench to a pipe, rod, or the like. It will also be observed that when the shank is introduced between the jaws 3 the depression or receiving-socket 9 is entirely closed and concealed by the contiguous jaw 3, and the spring 10 is thereby effectually protected.

As before stated, the jaws 3 are substantially semicircular, and it will be noted that the edges thereof most remote from the pivotal pin 4 are serrated to provide engaging teeth 11, and it will also be observed that the inner side of the jaw 7 is provided with a substantially V-shaped cavity 12, the sides of which are provided with reversely-arranged serrations or ratchet-teeth 13, and into the cavity 12 the pipe, rod, or the like being acted upon by the wrench is received. It will also be noted that the arrangement of the pivotal pin 4 is eccentric to the stationary jaws 3,'and it will thus be seen that when a pipe is introduced between the stationary jaws3 and the swinging jaw 7 and pressure is applied to the handle 1 to force the stationary jaws 3 toward the cavity 12 of the swinging jaw 7 said jaws will approach each other, and the pipe, rod, or the like will be firmly clamped between said jaws. As soon,

ICO

however, as pressure is released from the handle 1 the coil-spring 10 at once relaxes, with a resultant swinging of the-jaw 7 away from the stationary jaws 3, and consequently the pipe, rod, or the like is released from the gripping action of said jaws.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wrench of the class described, the combination with a handle one end of which is bifurcated and provided with substantially semicircular stationary jaws having their edges serrated to provide gripping-teeth, of a swinging jaw having a shank arranged within the bifurcated end of said handle, a pivotal pin passing through said stationary jaws at a point eccentric thereto and engaging the shank of the swinging jaw to provide a pivot therefor, said swinging jaw being provided with gripping-teeth adapted to coact with the gripping-teeth of the stationary jaws to hold a pipe or the like within the wrench, the shank of the swinging jaw being provided at one of its sides with a depression or receiving-socketsurrounding the pivotal pin, and a coil-spring arranged within said depression or receiving-socket and having one of its ends connected to said pin and its other end having a fixed engagement with the shank of the swinging jaw, whereby said spring exerts its tension to hold the swinging jaw normally open, the depression or receiving-socket of the swingingjaw being confined within the stationary jaws and protected thereby.

- 2. In a wrench of the class described, the combination with a handle one end of which is bifurcated and provided with substantially semicircular stationary jaws having their edges serrated to provide gripping-teeth, of a swinging jaw having a shank arranged within the bifurcated end of said handle, a pivotal pin passing through said stationary jaws at a point eccentric thereto and engaging the shank of the swinging jaw to provide a pivot therefor, said swinging jaw being provided with a substantially V-shaped cavity the sides of which are provided with reverselyarranged grippingteeth adapted to coact with the gripping-teeth of the stationary jaws to hold a pipe or the like within the wrench, the shank of the swinging jaw being provided at one of its sides with a depression or receiving-socket surrounding the pivotal pin, and a coil-spring arranged within said depression or receiving-socket and having one of its ends connected to said pin and its other end having a fixed engagement with the shank of the swinging jaw, whereby said spring exerts its tension to hold the swinging jaw normally open, the depression or receiving-socket of the swinging jaw being confined within the stationary jaws and protected thereby.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH LEVY.

Witnesses:

H A. WALK ER, GEO. W. SAUNDERS. 

